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A freshman congressman unseated a 10-term veteran colleague in a bitter Republican primary in a redrawn Illinois district.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R) unseated longtime Rep. Don Manzullo in Illinois's redrawn 16th congressional district. The Associated Press called the race for Kinzinger on Tuesday evening.
AP, file
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, right, unseated longtime Rep. Don Manzullo, left, in a bitter Republican primary.
The Kinzinger-Manzullo battle was just one of several districts forming the undercard of the day's presidential primary battle between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. (Romney won that race handily.)
But none of those contests were as bitter or high-profile, though, as the battle between the veteran Manzullo and Kinzinger, a 34-year-old Air Force veteran and deputy whip in the House who is seen as a potential rising star in the GOP.
The two Republicans had been drawn into a shared district by Democrats in the state legislature. The new 16th district had been seen as marginally favorable to Manzullo.
The race had become a generational battle, and took on higher significance after a somewhat unusual endorsement by Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the second-ranking Republican in the House, whose super PAC spent $50,000 on advertising against Manzullo.
Cantor’s decision to endorse added a new dimension of bitterness to the primary, prompting Manzullo to ask for the Virginia congressman’s resignation as majority leader.
Democratic leaders were more willing to get involved in another intramural scrape between Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., and former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, who was swept out of office by the Republican wave in 2010 after only a single term in office.
Jackson won the contest easily, and the AP called the race for him Tuesday evening.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., traveled to Chicago earlier this month to endorse Jackson, who was facing the toughest primary battle of his career from Halvorson. Jackson has served in Congress since 1995 and is the son of the civil rights icon who shares the same name.
But Jackson has also been forced to address allegations that he or an associate was engaged in an effort to raise campaign contributions for then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, in exchange for an appointment to Obama’s old Senate seat in 2008. Blagojevich was eventually convicted and sent to jail on corruption charges; the House Ethics Committee continues to investigate Jackson.
Another Democratic favorite with ties to the Obama administration won a primary battle in her bid to challenge firebrand freshman GOP Rep. Joe Walsh in November.
Tammy Duckworth, a disabled Iraq war veteran who served in the Obama administration as an official in the Department of Veterans Affairs, prevailed over opponent Raja Krishnamoorthi, according to the Associated Press.
Duckworth, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, enjoyed the support of top Democrats including David Axelrod, the Chicago-based senior strategist to President Obama. She'll face Walsh this fall in a new 8th district redrawn in Democrats' favor.
Liberals also suffered a disappointing loss, too, in a Democratic primary in Illinois’s 10th congressional district. Liberal advocacy groups like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have raised money to promote candidate Ilya Sheyman over businessman Brad Schneider, a more moderate candidate favored by the establishment.
Schneider was able to hold off Sheyman, though, in the battle to take on freshman Republican Rep. Bob Dold in a competitive suburban Chicago district.
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Term limits should be mandatory. Thank God there is one for the Presidential office. However this would be virtually an impossiblility since they would actually be voting themselves out of office. Some of the old timers get in and then are like a toothache they seem to stay forever.
I know Mr. Manzullo. He comes across as a nice guy, but is only interested in himself. When he first ran for Congress he stated he would serve no more than 3 terms. When time came to take himself out of the race, he justified continuing to run by saying that he was just beginning to get into positions of power that could help his constituents. Well, the largest city in his district is Rockford, which has been decimated by loss of manufacturing jobs, exceptionally high property tax rates, rapidly increasing poverty, and overall economic malaise. The few bright spots are grossly overshadowed by the pathetically dismal. It is hard to see what he has done for these people. He has shown an overall lack of creativity; his unwillingness to buck the party line to support his constituents is symptomatic of what all politicians are doing these days.
Where are the new ideas? Where are the counters to prevailing wisdom? Where are those that challenge prevailing wisdom? They are no where to be found. Like so many people commenting on this article, I agree that it is time to vote them all out. Every last one of them. And as long as our representatives do not do those things which create jobs, change the system to take advantages of efficiences of all types, and stand the system on its head, continue to vote them out.
If after several elections we do not see radical changes in the nature of our political system, let's have a new constitutional convention and discuss REAL change that will serve to make this country work again for the advantage of everyone, not just the few wealthy and powerful people at the top. We can reorganize the way we do things, reprioritize goals and restructure our system. If that's what it takes, then let us begin on that road.
The time for change has come. Seize the moment.
Two terms max and pay cuts for congress and senate, search Youtube for Ouzzy88 and watch Decision 2012
Do you remember the old money bubble game shows?
Grab all you can as fast as you can? That equals term limits
Now If we could just get the GOP to join hands with Ryan, and walk off the cliff together with him, the Democrats can take back the congress, and get a lot of good things done in President Obama's second term!!!
Good riddance! They need to institute term limits for the Senate and Congress.
Sono, Only the voters themselves can set term limits, If you do not like a politician, Vote to remove him from office,,,,,,,Simple?
I am from Illinois ( unfortunately). This is a classic case of what happens when one party has too much power. Essentially the democratic hacks put together a new districting plan that forced this to happen to their benefit. Yes, those dems are great. We are also electing people accused of bribery recently by 72% of the vote. Bunch of brainiacs these dems are.
Both parties are doing the same BS nationwide, By the way, Acussed is not convicted, If it were we would have no one to vote for
Not convicted but, he took the money from an FBI agent. Just saying
It never ceases to amaze me who folks WILL vote for
Newt Ginrich running on "Family Values" after cheating on every wife he has had, Abandoning his first two just when they needed family support.
Romney running on "Job Creation" after literally destroying thousands of jobs and selling off 100 low profit companies that had been in business and supporting entire communities for decades
Ron Paul running on common sense and sanity?? WOW, Thats a stretch!!!!
Santorum running on "social issues",,,,,,,He is one step away from beheadings and torture as a path to Christian conversion
Obama running the USA?? Don't get me wrong, He is doing a pretty fair job considering, But,,,,,,,,Has he ever actually had a real job??? Harvard Law, Magnum Cum Laude, yadayada,,,,,Sure fine and dandy, But a little experience in the real world might be nice?
I like Ron Paul the best out of all of them. Libertarians are very live and let live, war is a last resort, Americans should not be spied on or treated like terrorists, people should be able to marry who they want to and do what they want as long as they don't harm anyone else. This makes sense to me, they are fiscally conservative while liberal on social issues. The big thing that makes people call Libertarians crazy is their view on legalizing drugs. We have spent billions on this drug war and have only turned Mexico into a war zone and our streets full of crime. Enough is enough in my opinion, the drug war is a waste of money and is only causing more violence, the Libertarians are right in my opinion!
Also, at least with Ron Paul you know where he stands and his opinion does not change every month like Romney and Obama's does.
I agree with a lot of Libertarian policies, But when it come to business, manufacturing, agriculture, etc,,,,,,,,,I fully support the EPA, FDA, OSHA, and Consumer protections Democrats push and do not mind paying for the right to clean food and water.
But,,,,,,,,,Ron Paul? He needs to retire before he forgets where he lives
It will take so long to get rid of the lifers , that this young guys will become the same.
I don't know which is worse, having a President that wants to be able to throw people in jail indefinately without charging them for a crime, giving them a lawyer, or allowing them a fair trial or, places like Illonois (Democrats), Maryland (Democrats), and Texas (Republicans), redrawing all of the lines to ensure that their party maintains control or even wins more seats. I know that Eric Holder has said that President Obama can blow up Americans anywhere in the world without having any proof of wrongdoing, but I am going to take a chance and say it anyway, we need to get rid of both of these corrupt political parties!! Clean house in DC and vote for nothing but independent candidate moderates! We are all heading to a civil war if this CORRUPTION is allowed to continue by both parties! Bush and Obama have stripped Americans of many of their rights, the ACLU has been unable to stop them, we the people need to take a stand for our freedoms! No Obama's, Bush's, or McCain's! Those that believe that in order to be safe that we have to give up our rights to privacy, free speech, and right to assemble are anti-patriots that wish to have a police state! They all must go!
Rant over.
Rant away my friend, Do it loud and do it often!!!
I for one am tired of watching America run scared in our own Country
Stop the fearmongering, Stop the warmongering,,,,,,,,And LIVE!!!!!!
Like ythey did in the first 2 years...hummmm, I like the sound of it, 4 years of dem controlled house AND senate, I'm all for it because I believe that they will add so much to the debt issue that they (the feds) will unfortunately go bankrupt alot sooner than the rupubs will drive them bankrupt. In our modern day and age, we as a nation do not require them to ensure (enforce) what their lobbiest buddies have paid them to want and do for us. Power to the People, power to the States, the federal govt in its present financial form, has gotta, and is gonna fail, IT is unsustainable, It will go bankrupt. Then will be the time to re-set the constitional form of govt the States would require. Worst part about it is all that money they owe (we owe) around half or more is owed to us by us! We as a People, are gonna take it right up the wazoo when it happens, but we will be rid of this type of regulatory, waste infested, unionized, unelected (lifetime appointment) regulators... IT's all screwed up and owes like 120 Trillion $$$, Its a joke, and we as a people are a joke for allowing them to do this to us in the name of politics.
nOpe 2012
We need to get the money out of elections. We need to vote. We need to comprimise. We need to put America first not the rich millionares and billionares.
I would suggest any 'new' system includes the candidate submitting official documentation that defines his platform - and his promises. Should he fail to deliver on the promises within 2 terms - he cannot run again.
The problem is balancing experience with fresh ideas with political 'power'. Term limits are all good and fine - and at the same time we don't need to re-invent the wheel every 8 to 10 years. And, finally, we need to see the end of the two party system.
The fastest and easiest way to accomplish ALL of the above is to adjust all salaries and benefits to a rate that is at least 20% below the national average. Healthcare ends when their service ends - just like in the real world. This is supposed to be PUBLIC SERVICE not personal enrichment (yet show me even one politician who has left the the House or Senate or President broke and/or destitute!) Believe me, it is ALL about the MONEY!
Of course, another means to accomplish this is by forcing any pay or benefit to a public - NATIONAL - vote.
Now show me just one politician who has the balls to introduce the bill.
Wow, I wonder how many of you Liberals attempting to slam Republicans in Illiniois are from Illinois and actually "proud" of those you've put in office in Illinois.
Illinois was ONCE AGAIN deemed the most CORRUPT of all...and YES it has been dominated by Democrats for years. I guess that's George Bush's fault too, huh?
Or maybe Tea Party? ZERO accountability for Libs and Dems, always blaming someone else, no mirrors.
@ Jerry, I swear there for a minute I thought you were talking about your OWN ReThuglican party. Seems to me, at last count, the party that's sending the most members to prisons for corruptness is the ReThugs.
Let's see, latest one heading to prison is South Carolina's Assist Attorney General just a couple weeks ago.
Let's face it, corrupt politics isn't a ONE party issue. Until ReThuglican voters are willing to clean their own house, there's no use pointing fingers at the other party and bitching about it.
Mac,
Attempt to READ my comments. It was directed to the Dems that are slamming these Republicans. Considering Illinois DEMOCRATIC party IS and has been CORRUPT, it is funny hearing Democrats attack Repubs.
But of course, you can't read that, can you? I never said Republicans weren't corrupt. But if you want to start comparing Criminals, you'll LOSE, and you knw that. So please. Why NOT BOTH parties, but of course you say Republicans have to be willing. Educate yourself, ok?
There is ZERO accountability on all sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, the longer they are in office, the more they are entrenched - or at least aware of and unwilling to do anything about corruption - and in maintaining status quo.
It's not Liberals vs Conservatives as those titles pit you and I against each other - which for all practical purposes screws us both. Both sides can't win. Neither side should lose.
When they divide us - they conquer us.
Democrats attack the Republicans, Republicans attack the Democrats, 90% of us are somewhere in the middle wondering what in the hell happened to the people? Screw the candidates, Does anyone really believe Obama is a Muslim? Or Pelosi isn't a botox'd plastic cutout of a human being?? What race of braindead orange people produced weeping man Boehner?? Does no one see the cat-n-canary look on Eric Cantors face 24/7?
Repubs, Quit relying on FOX pundits for info, They are Conservative "Entertainment" NOT factual news by their own admisson.
Dems,,,, Quit relying on SNL and Jon Stewart, They are comedians looking for a laugh using current events, NOT factual news
I kinda' like Jon Stewart. Maybe he should run against Obama? lol
Truthfully it looks like I will be voting for Obama, But I can name a hundred other people offhand that I would vote for before him, Their just not in the runnin' (or wouldn't take the job on a silver platter)
The biggest concern I see with this is the WAY that Rep Manzullo was unseated ... Cantor's super-pac running negative campaign ads against him. This just further solidifies, to seated Republicans, the importance of remaining in good graces with Tea Party members like Cantor. The TPers will try to intimidate future seated congressmen with the threat of unseating them if they don't side with TPer issues. Folks, this is NOT GOOD! This is similar to the lions eating their cubs for food ... as long as these superpacs are allowed to contribute huge cash amounts to unseat incumbents, the game of politics is only going to get nastier and nastier.
The new guy has no idea to whom he just sold his soul. He's a nice lookin kid. Just a shame he has now been sucked into slavery.
Keep watching, Cantor will OWN the Republican party top to bottom within the next decade and he is willing to sell out American values, the economy, the people, Whatever it takes to get there
We need term limits, look at the Mississippi govenor Halley Barbour. If it had not been for term limits he would still be governor. Also the Supreme court should have term limits or at least age limits.
Manzullo has a nice pension, fully paid health care, and will probably become high paid lobbyist.....he is in good shape.
The new guy is already bought and paid for by Super Pacs...he will be no different then the rest of the politicans.
No surprise in a country that "values" youth that a young, handsome hottie wipes out a gray-haired troll.
I hope the Democratic candidate wipes HIM out! Doesn't matter if SHE is young or old.
This land I love can't handle any more GOP legislators after what Dubya did to the country. And this from a gay man and former moderate republican, now unaffiliated independent.
I wish we could wipe them all out and start over, here's one though.
Excellent - the career congressmen and senators just got a wake up call. It's good to see that the voting folks are picking up steam with this issue. Out with the old, in with the new. Let's see what the kid's got~
MplsMinn ... you're obviously not "reading between the lines" here. This new kid, as you call him, is a puppet of the TPers. Ousting the incumbent was a mere message sent by Cantor and his TPer THUGS ... "you buy into our policies and we allow you t stay in office ... you don't, we vote you out ...just that simple". The usually "uninformed" voters were influenced by negative ads run by Cantor's pac against one of their OWN. Now if you agree with the likes of Sarah Palin, Cantor and that crew, then I can see you as "happy" ... otherwise, I'd be majorly concerned, if I was you, that BIG MONEY was used to influence the wishes of the "FEW" ... these FEW do NOT speak for the majority of voters on either side. Its going to be up to the voters in these TPers districts to purge our government of these snakes ... you buy into THEM, you buy into the Koch Bro, and all the others trying to take our country away from us. Soon you'll have no rights as a worker ... no workers compensation, no minimum wage, no entitlements, NOTHING ... there will be a 1% rich class and a 99% poor class. Something to think about ... unless you're one of the 1%ers.
Hopefully this new guy is willing to halt our slide into a cesspool of third world sewage. Why does anybody want to live under the dictatorship of huge, bankrupt government? You leftists disgust me - you clowns are willing to sell away your freedom and liberty for 2 nickels. It wasn't that long ago that your forefathers fought and died protecting these very same freedoms. Shame on you traitors.
A larger, more powerful government equals a smaller, less powerful YOU.
Remember, Socialists (Communists, Marxists, Leftists, Democrats) want a government that rules OVER the people, not FOR the people.
Vote to take our government BACK.
Don't be swindled AGAIN!
Vote this clown show OUT in 7 months.
Out with the old - in with the new. It's time for this to happen across the board. It's obvious the old republican guard (McConnell, Boehner - both caved on Cut, Cap, and Balance) is no longer up to the task.
Yes, I would like to see a lot more long term politicians voted out of office. If they won't set term limits on themselves then (WE) the voters should do it for them. And that go for both political parties from the National level all the way down the the city level. If they are in office more than two terms vote their butts out of office. Yes even your favorite politician. If they are in office longer that they are more apt to have lobbyists etc. in their back pockets.
Stick a fork in Joe Walsh, hes done. Now lets get rid of the rest of these clowns and get down to business. Anyone who attempts to predict which party will control the congress after the election at this point is a fool. We the people are about to give all you thieves the boot.
Incumbents enjoy tremendous advantages in these races that's why they usually win, and that's why we have career politicians. They have access they have the party machinery, they have money. Career politicians are bad for our democracy. Their job security takes precedence over their judgement. If you went to congress knowing your stay will be limited it would be much easier for our representatives to represent us, rather than themselves. Four year terms for everyone, congress and senate and the same rules as the presidency, two terms and then you move on. And get the money out of politics. The idiotic supreme court has screwed us on this one, insuring that millions will be wasted on these campaigns, by special interests. This is not in the best interest of our nation. The way things stand now people with money have an advantage in influencing our elections.
I didn't read anything in this article about a Democrat or a Republican who was taking action to help the 80% of us not in the top or bottom 10%. We need a party of our own. But, unseating long term entrenched politicians is a really good idea. I entend to help effect that same thing in November here in California.
Become an independent. We DON'T need political parties. THEY need US. If everyone would just realize that, the nation's situation might improve.
Since when are public servants, "stars"? We have made celebrities out of everybody else I guess - why not people who work for the people - ...er I mean entities, corporations and other individuals...